What About Jesus

Devotion - May 31, 2012

Thu, 31 May 2012 06:01:00 +0000

O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony. My soul is in anguish. How long, O LORD, how long? Turn, O LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love. … Away from me, all you who do evil, for the LORD has heard my weeping. The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer.

Psalm 6:1-4,8-9

Prayers of the Bible - A Prayer for Healing

King David wrote this psalm probably at a time in his life when things were going badly. He was hurting physically and he was greatly disturbed over the turmoil that was besetting him. He prayed fervently for the LORD to deliver him from the agony of pain and the anguish of his soul.

Can you relate to David’s condition today? Are you struggling with a physical ailment that drains your strength? When you woke up this morning, was your outlook for the day clouded by yesterday’s adversity? Are you slogging through the day silently sighing, “How long, O LORD, how long?”

In his great needs for his body and soul, David petitioned the LORD for help. He counted on the LORD’s unfailing love to look on him in mercy and lift him up from the pit of his problems. And his prayer was answered. David exclaimed, “The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer.”

Trusting in the love and power of the LORD, you too can take your cares to him. He promises to hear your prayer. And his answer will always be according to his unfailing love for you—a love he demonstrated by sending Jesus to rescue you from the pain of sin’s punishment and the agony of eternal death.

It is written in another psalm: Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall (Psalm 55:22). Take God at his word…go ahead and pray for healing.

Prayer:

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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Devotion - May 31, 2012

Keywords:

Psalms

Devotion - May 31, 2012

Thu, 31 May 2012 05:00:05 +0000

Daily devotion from Psalm 6:1-4,8-9.

Podcast:

Devotion - May 30, 2012

Wed, 30 May 2012 06:01:00 +0000

All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 14:25-27

Change I Can Believe In

Change. Although it is a part of life, it can either be a welcome relief or unwelcome intrusion. Regardless of my attitude toward change, it will continue to happen. So how do I decide which changes to adopt and which to resist? This is something that experience will help me answer.

Experience does show me one area where change is good and is always welcome. It is the change promised by Jesus and brought about by the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised his followers that they would see a change in their lives and a change in the way they look at life. Consider some of those changes. The Spirit would reinforce everything Jesus taught. He would provide the peace Jesus secured through his suffering and death. He would also bring about a change of heart and mind.

These changes Jesus promised through the Holy Spirit still take place. The Spirit offers them through God’s Word to open my eyes to the changes he works in me.

Through the Spirit I come to an understanding and appreciation of what Jesus did for me. Everything he accomplished, everything he taught, I now know what it means for me. Here is change. No longer am I blind and ignorant of the Lord, but I know him through faith.

Through the Spirit I enjoy the peace Jesus secured for me. I have the right relationship with God. No longer am I hostile to him and his will. I know his goodness and mercy. I have been changed. Now I have peace.

Through the Spirit I also look at life differently. The things that daily disturb me and trouble my heart God helps me overcome. The forces Satan hurls against me to make me timid and cowardly are defeated. This is change. My heart is calm. My soul is confident. I know the Spirit is with me, and he will always assure me of my Savior’s love and forgiveness, as well as his strength and victory.

Change when it comes from the Lord is a blessing. It leads to joy, to peace, to loving service and to faithfulness. This is change I can believe in.

Prayer:

O dearest Jesus, you have promised to work a change in my heart and in my life. Send me your Holy Spirit through God’s Word to make that change. Continue your work so that I may know your peace, your presence and your power. Amen!

Today's Devotion is brought o you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com

WhatAboutJesus.com has a new look. Check it out! www.WhatAboutJesus.com

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Devotion - May 30, 2012

Keywords:

John

Devotion - May 30, 2012

Wed, 30 May 2012 05:30:05 +0000

Daily devotion from John 14:25-27.

Podcast:

Devotion - May 29, 2012

Tue, 29 May 2012 06:01:00 +0000

"What has happened to us is a result of our evil deeds and our great guilt, and yet, our God, you have punished us less than our sins have deserved and have given us a remnant like this. Shall we again break your commands and intermarry with the peoples who commit such detestable practices? Would you not be angry enough with us to destroy us, leaving us no remnant or survivor? O LORD, God of Israel, you are righteous! We are left this day as a remnant. Here we are before you in our guilt, though because of it not one of us can stand in your presence."

Ezra 9:13-15

Prayers of the Bible - A Prayer of Confession

How difficult would it be for you to admit all your wrongdoings to your family, to your friends, or to other Christians? I doubt that it would be easy for any of us. And yet, how much more difficult is it to confess your sins to the holy and perfect God? But that is just what God wants us to do: admit that we are sinners.

Ezra made a confession, not only of his own sin, but also of the sins of his people. Ezra taught God's Word to the Jewish community that had returned after the Babylonian captivity. His people had sinned, yet he resisted the temptation to draw a distinction between 'me' and 'them.' Instead, throughout this prayer, Ezra identified himself with his people.

In spite of the lessons of history and the favor that God had shown his people, the Jews returning from captivity were committing many of the same sins which had brought judgment on the nation. God had every right to be angry, and even to consume the remnant of his people. Ezra confessed their guilt and served as an example for the people. We read, "While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites—men, women and children—gathered around him. They too wept bitterly" (Ezra 10:1).

God also calls us to admit our guilt and humbly confess all our sins to him. The Bible says, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-9). Confessing our sins and trusting in Jesus who sacrificed himself to save us from the punishment we deserve, we have the confidence of free forgiveness from our God.

Prayer:

(Psalm 51:1-2):
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

Today's Devotion is brought o you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com

WhatAboutJesus.com has a new look. Check it out! www.WhatAboutJesus.com

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Devotion - May 29, 2012

Keywords:

Ezra

Devotion - May 29, 2012

Tue, 29 May 2012 06:00:16 +0000

Daily devotion from Ezra 9:13-15.

Podcast:

How Do I Recover From Rape?

gravitek — Tue, 29 May 2012 03:34:07 +0000

If you’ve been raped, then you’ve come face to face with evil – violent, terrifying, devastating evil – and a selfishness, hatred and rage that takes your breath away. You were at the mercy of someone who had none. You bear the marks, though hidden from sight. It wasn’t your fault. The shame you experience in this matter is false. But that’s not how it feels.

How Does the Holy Spirit Work?

gravitek — Tue, 29 May 2012 03:33:08 +0000

Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to” (Acts 16:6,7).

Coming again

gravitek — Tue, 29 May 2012 03:32:22 +0000

If you want to find a Biblical subject about which there is widespread misinformation and uncertainty, the topic of the Last Day would fit that description. But it doesn't need to be. In reality, it's quite simple, and, for those who believe in Jesus, it's chock-full of good news.

Think about Jesus' ascension. Jesus had led the disciples up onto the Mt. of Olives, he'd lifted up his nail-marked hands and blessed them. As he was blessing them, he powerfully ascended up into the sky, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

Devotion - May 28, 2012

Mon, 28 May 2012 06:01:00 +0000

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Acts 2:1-4

More than Marketing

You’re starting up a new restaurant. How do you get business? You let your community know that they have a need (they get hungry); there is a solution (food) and you have the best solution in town (your barbeque beats everyone else’s). Perhaps you hand out free samples at the fair, entice people with coupons or specials, and you hope that word of mouth drives hungry customers your way.

God was starting his New Testament Church. Jesus had died, rose and ascended to heaven. Now what? How would God gather people into his Church? The verses of God’s Word for today show a very important and VERY BIG “advantage” God had when he started his New Testament Church. Jesus’ disciples had the best message in the world (forgiveness through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection) for the biggest problem of everyone in the world (the problem of sin and death). This was not just a slick ad campaign. Free forgiveness, peace with God and eternal life through Jesus beat any other deal in the world.

The disciples had the life-giving Word of God, AND they were filled with more than just pious enthusiasm or an entrepreneurial spirit. Jesus’ disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit. God made it audibly and visibly obvious that the Holy Spirit was with them and was working through them. They could hear the sound of a violent wind. They could see the tongues of fire. The Holy Spirit enabled the disciples to speak in languages they did not know, but people in their audience did. God worked powerfully in the disciples and through their words. When they spoke God’s Word, the Holy Spirit worked on the hearts of those who heard their message.

Have you ever marveled that God has delivered this same message to you? You are a rebellious sinner who deserves an eternity in hell. Graciously, God sent Jesus who lived a perfect life in your place, suffered and died in your place, and rose on the third day—victorious over sin and death. You are forgiven of all your sins. You have peace with God and eternal life. The Holy Spirit works through this message to give and grow your faith. Now, while you may not speak in other languages, you can use your God-given tongue to share that vital message with others. God’s grace and peace are yours.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, my sin means I have the greatest need—I need a Savior from sin; I need Jesus. Work powerfully through your Word to bring me to daily repentance and free forgiveness. Move my heart and my tongue to thank and honor God with all that I do and say. Amen.

Today's Devotion is brought o you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com

WhatAboutJesus.com has a new look. Check it out! www.WhatAboutJesus.com

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Devotion - May 28, 2012

Keywords:

Acts